INHALE...EXHALE:
YRMC’S Lung Cancer Screening and Care Program
Heavy, long-term smokers, current smokers, or people
with a family history of lung cancer now have lung cancer
screening with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT)
available at Prescott Medical Imaging (PMI), Prescott
Valley Medical Imaging (PVMI) and Yavapai Regional
Medical Center (YRMC) East in Prescott Valley.
Lung cancer often has no symptoms. Because of this, it
can spread outside of the lungs and develop into another
form of cancer before it is detected. By then, the cancer
may be advanced which can affect treatment outcomes for
the patient.
“Itʼs very important to get screened even if you donʼt
have symptoms,” said Mary Sterling, Director of Imag-
ing Services for YRMC. “The benefit of early detection
is finding a cancer before it has a chance to spread. The
earlier cancer is detected, the more likely it is treatable.”
LDCT is part of the Lung Cancer Screening and Care
Program, launched recently by YRMC. To be eligible for
the Medicare-sponsored screening you must be:
• Between the ages of 55-75
• Free of cancer symptoms
• Currently smoking
• A past smoker who quit less than 15 years ago
• A heavy smoker averaging one pack per day for 30
years or two packs per day for 15 years
People are encouraged to talk with their primary care
providers to determine if they are eligible for the
screening program.
“The patient and healthcare provider will have a discus-
sion about the patientʼs smoking history and find out if
they have any symptoms,” Sterling said. “Theyʼll also talk
about smoking cessation if the patient is still smoking.”
YRMCʼs Lung Cancer Screening and Care Program
uses a team approach that draws on the skills of primary
care providers, pulmonologists, procedural pulmonolo-
gists, radiologists and a cardiothoracic surgeon.
The program also includes a patient navigator whose job
is to serve as a patient contact. This professional answers
questions about program eligibility and directs patients
to the appropriate provider if specific care is required.
The patient navigator also can help people determine if
their current insurance plan covers the screening or assist
people who would like to undergo the exam using the self-
pay option YRMC offers.
“The program is not a one-time screening test,” said
Sterling. “Annual follow-up screening is recommended
for patients whose initial screenings do not show signs of
lung cancer.”
If a patientʼs LDCT findings are suspicious, a six-
month follow-up scan may be scheduled. A biopsy may
also be recommended, in which case the patient would
be referred to a procedural pulmonologist or a radiolo-
gist, depending on the location of the lung mass. Should
the patient need surgery, the Lung Cancer Screening and
Care Program team also includes a cardiothoracic sur-
geon.
For more information about LDCT, please contact your
primary care provider or the Lung Cancer Screening and
Care Program Patient Navigator at (928) 771-5454.
pccnews October 2017
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